Tech

Amazon’s kooky new keyboard lets humans and AI write music together

This gadget from Amazon Web Services shows off the power of AI by helping developers compose everything from jazz to rock—with help from a neural network.

Portland plans to propose the strictest facial recognition ban in the country

Portland, Oregon, aims to ban the use of the controversial technology not only by city government, but also by private companies.

I attended the Apple Entrepreneur Camp. Here’s why you should too

I started my company in 2016. But attending Apple’s weeklong workshop for female CEOs and developers this year changed the way I think about my app.

Antitrust warrior Matt Stoller warns that if we don’t take on Big Tech, ‘we’ll become a fascist society’

In his fascinating new book, ‘Goliath,’ Stoller covers the history of antitrust in the U.S. He expands on those thoughts in a wide-ranging discussion, detailing the tools available to break up Big Tech and why we’re at risk of the end of democracy.

Your iPhone could help track disease—if you let researchers spy on you

Researchers want to use your cell phone’s location data to stop diseases from spreading. But at a time of data breaches, privacy violations, and lack of trust, they may not be ready to keep it safe.

This alternative search engine is basically Google without the privacy headaches

If a stripped-down, more private version of Google search existed, it might look a lot like Startpage.

These 5 great apps help you stay in shape on the road

Gym-free workouts, drop-in classes, time-sensitive training . . . oh, and zombies!

The expert who predicted Trump’s 2016 win says we’re living in a “manufactured reality”

Four years after Sarah Kendzior forecasted Trump’s win, the bestselling author reflects on the rise of online propaganda, the need for transparent algorithms, and why social media is more dangerous than ever.

Comcast’s new price hike makes cord-cutting more attractive

Why it’s so difficult for Uber to crack down on driver impersonators

Transport for London officials say they “cannot be confident that similar issues won’t happen again in [the] future.”

Why Google’s ‘Sputnik’ moment isn’t the last word in quantum supremacy

Comparing Google’s computational achievement to past landmarks in human history might leave you with the wrong idea about why it mattered—and where it could lead us.

Do these 5 things to stay safe while you shop and travel

Attivo’s chief deception officer says that as we rush around frazzled and distracted, we are easy prey for cyberattackers who are just waiting for us to slip up.

Pete Buttigieg is way ahead of his 2020 rivals when it comes to poaching talent from Big Tech

This $50 device is trying to finally kill off the walkie-talkie

After launching as a screenless alternative to cellphones for kids, Relay has become a walkie-talkie replacement at hotels, theme parks, and stadiums.

The first effort to regulate AI was a spectacular failure

Albert Fox Cahn participated in New York City’s process to understand how automated decision systems are impacting its citizens. But, he writes, the historic, well-intentioned initiative went “horribly wrong.”

Fitness startup Mirror claims it’s ‘building the next iPhone’

Can the connected streaming device grow past its workout roots? Founder Brynn Putnam believes the startup might just be the next big screen in your life, with plans to expand into telehealth.

Kaiser Permanente is redesigning medical school, starting with the cadaver

The innovative care network is thinking big-picture about preparing doctors for a changing world.

Your Sonos speaker might be the most eco-friendly device you own

Why? It’s actually designed to last between 5 and 10 years, unlike the 1- or 2-year lifespans of many electronic devices.